Parvo Dog Disease Symptoms

Canine parvovirus, commonly known as "parvo," is a disease found in dogs. This disease is extremely contagious and often results in death, especially in puppies. The disease attacks the intestinal and cardiac systems in dogs and eventually shuts down their respiration, resulting in death of almost all untreated cases. Parvo can take many forms initially, but common symptoms may be seen that are cause for concern, especially if a dog has more than one.

  1. Vomiting

    • Dogs with parvo often begin vomiting within a day or two of infection. After the first round of vomiting, when the contents of the stomach are emptied, the dog may continue to throw up bile and foam. This excessive vomiting can often lead to dehydration and can be one of the most dangerous side effects for dogs that go untreated.

    Diarrhea

    • The most common form of the parvovirus is the intestinal form known as parvovirus enteritis. The dog may reach worse levels of dehydration because of continual diarrhea. This diarrhea may be dark in color, yellow or bloody. The odor will be worse than usual, and the animal may not be able to control where or when it goes.

    Lethargy

    • Most dogs that become seriously ill with parvo reach a state of lethargy quickly. The dog will seem in a depressed mood and will often not even get up from a resting spot when the master comes home. It is common to see dogs suffering with this disease refuse to move or socialize. The eyes are sometimes all the dog is willing or able to move.

    Fever

    • Dogs with acute cases of parvovirus often have a noticeable fever in addition to other symptoms. Lowered white blood cell counts often accompany this type of infection, which reduce the dog's ability to fight the disease.

    Refusal of Food and Drink

    • Pet owners may notice the dog's disinterest in food or water as parvovirus begins to take hold. This refusal to drink or eat contributes to the possibility of dehydration and may increase the animal's likelihood of succumbing to the disease. In some cases, an owner's ability to coax the animal into taking in fluids may buy older dogs the extra needed time to be treated by a vet and be properly diagnosed. Often, however, a dog showing these kinds of symptoms may not have the constitution to hold on through treatment. Puppies less than 12 weeks of age are the most likely to die from the disease.